EDWARDSVILLE — An Alton man is facing 20 years in prison after an officer testified that he was driving drunk as he yelled and cursed at other drivers, before turning in front of a motorcycle, killing Gary Wright, 66, and his wife, Lora Wright, 63, of Wood River.

Jeffrey A. Rynders, 28, of the 3200 block of Myrle Street, was sentenced after Det. Marcos Pulido testified that Gary Wright was pronounced dead shortly after the accident, but Lora Wright suffered in a hospital for several months before she died.

The officer said the victim had a leg amputated, required a feeding tube and had to be reminded daily that her husband had died and that she could not walk for loss of a leg. She spent five weeks in a coma before she died, Pulido said.

Rynders fled on foot after the Sept. 15, 2013, accident at Landmarks Boulevard and the Clark Bridge. Witnesses chased him down and turned him over to police. He had been drinking and smoking marijuana. His blood-alcohol level was 0.2 percent, almost three times the legal limit.

Pulido testified that Rynders was apparently distracted by drivers honking at him for failing to proceed at several green lights. He was yelling at them and appeared ready to fight, witnesses told police. He was apparently distracted by the dispute and failed to yield right-of-way, turning left in front of the Wright couple, who were on a three-wheeled motorcycle.

Circuit Judge Kyle Napp said at Wednesday’s hearing that she could find no mitigating factors that would allow her to sentence below the 20 year maximum allowed under a previous plea bargain. The judge said she exercised her authority to sentence Rynders to consecutive terms, resulting in two 10-year terms, for a total of 20.

The maximum sentencing range for aggravated driving under the influence is 14 years, so Rynders could have gotten a 28-year sentence had he refused the plea agreement and been convicted at trial.

There were no witnesses Wednesday to describe the pain they suffered as a result of the deaths, but the judge described a letter from Lora Wright’s mother, Leta Harshbarger, as “sweet but heartbreaking.”

Napp said her reasons for deciding on consecutive sentences is related to the character and history of the defendant. She noted the suffering of the victims’ families.

“They sound like incredibly lovey people,” the judge said, noting that they are unlikely to recover from their grief. “It will never go away for them,” Napp said.

Rynders apologized for his actions, but the judge said his apology was blunted by the fact that he has two prior felony convictions.

“It took the deaths of two people before you had your wake-up call,” the judge said.

Assistant State’s Attorney Crystal Uhe argued that Rynders had previously been convicted of felony property and felony theft, as well as misdemeanors, such as possession of alcohol by a minor and possession of drug paraphernalia.

“You have had 16 arrests, some of them involving drugs and alcohol. Some of the cases have been dismissed, but now you have destroyed a family,” the judge said.

She noted that the apology was a factor in the plea bargain, so that Rynders had something to gain from his words of contrition.

“I think you are dangerous. Your actions reflect concern for no one but yourself,” Napp said.

The courtroom was packed with family members and members of the Dream Weavers motorcycle club, a club that sponsors annual events to raise money for “Shop with a Cop,” a police effort to buy Christmas presents for disadvantaged children.

“Gary and Lora Wright were amazing people who surrounded themselves with an incredible family and friends,” State’s Attorney Tom Gibbons said.